Something New

I don't know how long ago it was that I first ran across the ships from the Star Wars X-Wing game at a local B&N. So I picked up a few.
Talking on the forums it seems they are more or less about 1/270 scale, which is a bit small small but still a respectable size for the larger ships. 
Soon after, if you look at Shapeways, enterprising guys have created ships not already done in the same 1/270 scale (I have no financial stake in this guy's store, I just like his models). Of course these aren't painted but that's no problem for the average modeler.
Recently I just saw a new ship, The Shadow Caster, which I just had to have. Turns out that this and other new craft are from the Star Wars cartoon Rebels - 

In real life the colors are a bit bright, but a simple misting of a light gray should tone it down. 

Then I noticed that a similar game appeared called Armada. The ships appear to be all capital ships. They are approximately the same size, so that really changes the scale. But once again, they are highly detailed - 

So if you don't mind the smallish sizes, have a look at these ships whether you play the game, or like me, just like collecting star ships.

Back from the dead...

"Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."
Whoo boy, I've never been so sick in quite a long while. It started with simple cold/flu symptoms. It then morphed in a wicked sinus infection. From there it moved into my chest and became bronchitis. When I finally went to the local "Doc in a Box" they said I was lucky I came in when I did. I was on the verge of pneumonia! So 4 additional meds in hand, I'm hoping to feel a bit better. It's only been a month and a 1/2... :-P

But that didn't stop my from buying.  The first package that showed up on my door was from Squadron and was the new Haunnebu II. This is the Luft '46 Nazi flying saucer.  Let me tell you even at 1/72 scale this thing will be HUGE -

Next up is a kit from Skink Haunt and it's The Gecko.  Skink was mostly known for his natural history models of the fauna from Taiwan. But not so recently moved into taking the local animals and turning them on their heads Godzilla style. The kit I ordered is probably in the 8 to 10in. tall size. I originally had a pice of bark that I was going to mount him on. But then I noticed Skink listed the scale at 1/35. This makes the Gecko approx 45 ft. tall  So now I want to find a building to hang him on! 

 He has unbelievable models, but sadly some are pretty expensive.  What I did was get on his email list and he will send you a notice for upcoming products. This announcement usually comes with a reduced preorder price. At least you can save $20-30 that way. 
The previous Skink model I spoke of was the Octopus-- here.  

Finally, is a concept space ship from Pegasus Models. It's the Von Braun Moon Lander -

The box states that the model is 1/350 scale and stands 10" high. There was some debate over at the Yahoo Space Modelers Group, in that the scale is more likely 1/200. But since it's a concept and was never built - what's the difference. ;) 
That's about all for now. Thanks for looking in.

Saucer-naut Santa

Picked up another mini bust from John Dennett. Last year was the Christmas Werewolf. This time it's the Saucer-naut Santa, which he made into an ornament for the tree.  
Once I started going I just got into it and  painted away. So no WIP pics.  The "fur" around the hat and also the little poofs at the end of the hat are white glue with a little Woodland Scenics Snow on it.  Nice and easy. Thanks for looking. 

The '41 Wolfman Bust

When I posted my Ardeth Bay Mummy images, there was discussion how some of these models would look good as B&W. Not just the feature on your camera or viewing program, but to actually paint the figure as B&W.

So I tried this (for the first) time on my '41 Wolfman bust. I started off with the cleaned up kit -

Then I primed it with black and then hit it with white primer in a zenithal style -

From there I just used Vallejo's black, white, off white, medium gray, Citadel's Nuln Oil and a little glos for the eyes and around the mouth.  The pics came out a little odd looking, but here they are. Thanks for looking.

The Mummy Ardeth Bay

This time around we have another one that was sitting almost finished on my work table for a while. Another Gillman Productions kit, it Boris Karloff as Ardeth Bay from the 1932 film The Mummy.

This was an easy one, only 2 pieces of resin - the bust and the pillar base. There was only one bubble in the pillar base and with the Vallejo Plastic Putty, it was a super simply repair.

This was an excellent likeness of Boris and I start out with  a reference pic of the man.

 As all the photos were B&W I did rely on a few other images of this figure showing a red fez, white shirt and some sort of brown jacket - 

Trying something new I tried using the "fabric" spray for the fez rather than just paint.  Ultimately the fez ended up looking like faux leather rather than fabric. Still, it wasn't bad and did show some texture. 
from there I wanted to have a go at the pillar base. Others who've done this kit just had some sort of single color and then a wash over the hieroglyphics. I wanted to do something else. I googled, and found this image - 

Then used most of the same colors on my pillar - 

To me the coat matched the sand around the pillar a little too much. So I got out some Vallejo Orange Brown and base coated the jacket again. Then adding some darker wash to the creases, and chocolate brown to the laces of the shirt which was painted Ivory.  Then the hieroglyphics looked a little too bright, so I mist coated the base in Vallejo Buff and called it done. Thanks for looking. 

(trying to match the lighting of the famous "glowing eyes" image)

Krampus, the anti-Santa

Just in time for Christmas, we have Krampus. 

Along the narrow paths of the alpine countries, between snowy forests and silent valleys, on cold nights that come close to the winter solstice, wild and mysterious creatures roam: they are the Krampus. In the time of year when the sun is weak and barely touches the Earth with its rays, they come out of their shelters in the mountains to go to visit lonely Alpine countries ... They sneak quietly in homes or roam the streets between noises of cowbells looking for naughty children, who kidnap closing them in the bottom of a large sack, to take them who knows where ...
Children who will not be rewarded by the gifts of Santa Claus, end up in the clutches of the devils of Yule, the Krampus!
Everything that exists, exists because of its opposite: there isn't force, intelligence, virtue, or property that hasn't an opposite that counterbalances. In the popular tradition of the north-east Italy, Austria, Germany and the Slavic countries, the Krampus is the force opposite to that of Santa Claus: he is the companion of Santa Claus, often depicted with him, the other face of a single power that gives or takes away according to merit.

Our Krampus model comes from Aradia Models, who started out as two brothers from Italy, that have expanded to include a very talented group of artists.  
The model is very well sculpted and is 75mm in size. It came in about 6 pieces, and was very easy to put together. For the initial build and early stages of painting I left off the hand with staff, tail and crow. 

Here he is all primed with a zenithal highlight of white - 

Looking up images of Krampus online, they were about as varied as you could get. Some were like our model, very sleek, while others were like a shaggy dog. All had horns, while some had a staff and other had a handful of branches, to beat the bad children.  Having so many variations gave me the ability to basically do whatever I wanted. Being he was the anti-Santa, I wanted to give him a few attributes of Santa. So I gave him the white beard and the red bag. Unfortunately I see, as soon as I started base coating that the bag was not filled with toys...
I painted him a gray with other gradients of gray to highlight and shadow the figure. The staff was painted a cork brown and then washed details into it with Citadel's Agrax Earthshade. There are jingle bells that are silver, and a bell that is painted a brass color with a silver clapper. The straps on both his feet and staff were done in "festive" green. 

 The next thing to think about was the base. The base that comes with the model is a 40MM (or so) disk with some rocks or the like on it. This won't do. Thinking again about him being the anti-Santa. I thought of him up on a rooftop. and while I was at it I might as well include the obligatory chimney. 

The base started out as a few pieces of foam - 

To this I added some sheet styrene shingles, styrene clapboard sheet to the ends and a resin chimney. All of which was supposed to be in "O" scale. Either the shingles look a little big or the clapboards look a little small, but except for finding a brick and mortar hobby store, I had to go by what I was told online. 

To this I added some Woodland Scenics snow on the roof and chimney. I drilled a hole in the top and super glued Krampus in place.  Then with another drop of superglue on the other foot, and covering all that with more snow, he was done. Thanks for looking. 

Troll !!!

This guy has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time now. Up and off to my left I have all my smaller "kits." Some, like these minis, are ready for painting others are actually kits. So when I have put something else together and am waiting for it to dry, I grab one of these figures and I paint with whatever I happen to have on my palette. This is one of the Trolls from the board game Blood Rage.

Disclaimer: I was part of the Kickstarter, so I don't know whats in the regular retail box vs all the stuff I got so this Troll may or may not be there. 

Anyway here's my Troll. Once again I am guilty of not seeing obvious seams and not doing anything about them once seen. I'll redouble my efforts next time. 
The base has been done with the new Vallejo Earth Paste, and some Woodland Scenics Snow mixed with glue.